Import Duties/Tariffs for the USA: The Basics (2025)

[GXAlan]

From what I understand there is difference between US and EU rules. In the EU the safety rules are legislation, but in the US they are rules by the insurers (UL). I guess the latter makes it harder to stop their import. Am I right?

Not quite. The U.S. does not have a federal standard. We have the National Electrical Code which is adopted as law/legistlation in all 50 states, with minor modifications here and there.

National Electrical Code - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

One good example is that San Francisco allows you to have knob and tube wiring in insulation, etc. If you remodel or rebuild, you have to build it “up to code”.

UL is not an insurer. It is a certified body, just like CSA, Intertek, or German TÜV SÜD. UL is a global non profit. It provides third party independent evaluation instead of self certification.

 

[Sokel]

From what I understand there is difference between US and EU rules. In the EU the safety rules are legislation, but in the US they are rules by the insurers (UL). I guess the latter makes it harder to stop their import. Am I right?

Insurers could easily pass legislation if they wanted,they have enormous power.
But stuff like these thingies showed in your Facebook for example can easily allow them to avoid claims.
It's their literal joy.

So...

 

[darth]

Posting here as an FYI for folks since I got hit with a fee trying to import a minidsp flex htx. Had to also give SSN.

 

[GXAlan]

Posting here as an FYI for folks since I got hit with a fee trying to import a minidsp flex htx. Had to also give SSN.

That’s more than $800, but it’s interesting that DHL says that there is some sort of $250 threshold.

To confirm, you ended up paying $150 extra? $95 tariff and $55 brokerage fees?

In a way, if buying from MiniDSP used to be cheaper than buying from @deercreekaudio, it was a losing game. Now, if it’s the same price, buying from @deercreekaudio makes a lot more sense for faster shipping, real customer service, etc. Then, the cascading effects of taxes…

Once @deercreekaudio runs out of existing inventory, though, I assume they will need to raise prices to maintain the same margins as new imports will cost more.

The only other scenario is that when you, and individual consumer, buys the unit, the declared value is $950. Presumably Deer Creek Audio gets a discount for buying in bulk, and the tariff would be on the value of the transaction?

 

[darth]

To confirm, you ended up paying $150 extra? $95 tariff and $55 brokerage fees?

 

[quattro98]

This is a helpful guide. I'll share an anecdote as a US end customer.

In a global enthusiast group, we ordered customized Swiss Made watches from a UK brand last year. They shipped recently by DHL to the recipients worldwide. In the US, some people have paid no fees, some have paid the expected fee/charges/duty to DHL in a smooth process after a notice similar to what I've gotten before (varying from $60-100), and others have had delayed packages and were requested to provide SSN and other information.

Interestingly, the origin of the goods is designated as CH (Confœderatio Helvetica) on the packages and this has been mistaken as China by DHL for those who ended up with a more complex transaction and required additional scrutiny & SSN. FWIW, people in the EU have reported paying around €300 since this is a post-Brexit UK to EU shipment for them.

 

[MattHooper]

Posting here as an FYI for folks since I got hit with a fee trying to import a minidsp flex htx. Had to also give SSN.

View attachment 429185

I’ve got to say that DHL is the most persistent company I’ve ever dealt with.

I think I use them once in the 90s, and they haven’t stopped phoning me since wanting more business from me! doesn’t matter how many of their people I tell that I’m no longer importing and have no interest. They keep phoning me.

 

[GXAlan]

My understanding is that DHL / Deutsche Post used to be the official government post service of Germany, akin to our USPS and “USPS Priority Mail” with DHL being a brand of Deutsche Post. Then the government postal service split off into a non governmental, publicly traded company. Maybe @pogo can add context.

DHL’s heritage as a government organization may be why they are more persistent with customs fees, etc.

 

[darth]

Not sure where I saw, might have been reddit, but I vaguely remember that the probability of getting hit with import duty was dhl > fedex ~ UPS > USPS

 

[pogo]

Maybe @pogo can add context.

I can't add anything to that.

 

[GXAlan]

I can't add anything to that.

Is that accurate though? That DHL used to be an official government service of (West) Germany? (I ask because I know you subscribe to stereo.de).

 

[pogo]

Deutsche Post AG and DHL Group emerged from the former Deutsche Bundespost authority (official government service).

 

[Mart68]

The carrier pays the duty for you to clear your item through customs then has to recoup it from you. Essentially unpaid government tax collectors.

When I was with FedEx we wrote off hundreds of millions of dollars in uncollectable duty payments every year. The government got its money, we didn't. The 'customs clearance charge' barely covered the admin required let alone those losses. It was just seen as the cost of doing business as there was no real solution.

 

[Willem]

My understanding is that DHL / Deutsche Post used to be the official government post service of Germany, akin to our USPS and “USPS Priority Mail” with DHL being a brand of Deutsche Post. Then the government postal service split off into a non governmental, publicly traded company. Maybe @pogo can add context.

DHL’s heritage as a government organization may be why they are more persistent with customs fees, etc.

It is a bit more complex. DHL was founded as a private US company in 1969 and bought by Deutsche Post between 1998 and 2002. Deutsche Post itself was indeed the original state postal system, but had been privatised in 1995, although the state still owns a substantial share. It subsequently acquired and integrated many other companies in the postal and parcel business in different countries, making it the largest player in the world. It now mostly trades under the DHL Group name.

 

[GXAlan]

“U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports will total 20%.“

Trump says Mexico, Canada tariffs will start March 4, plus additional 10% on China

President Donald Trump said his proposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada will go into effect March 4, and that China will be charged an additional 10% tariff.

www.cnbc.com

 

[Willem]

And apparently 25% on imports from Europe. If you import privately, you will get hit for the full amount (plus handling charges), and if you buy something from a brand such as Yamaha with a US importer the increase should be mostly on the lower price at import. In any case, prices of foreign made audio will go up by anything between 10% and 25%, and the same applies to televisions, laptops, and much more. It is textbook economics that nobody wins in such a situation.

 

[deercreekaudio]

That’s more than $800, but it’s interesting that DHL says that there is some sort of $250 threshold.

To confirm, you ended up paying $150 extra? $95 tariff and $55 brokerage fees?

In a way, if buying from MiniDSP used to be cheaper than buying from @deercreekaudio, it was a losing game. Now, if it’s the same price, buying from @deercreekaudio makes a lot more sense for faster shipping, real customer service, etc. Then, the cascading effects of taxes…

Once @deercreekaudio runs out of existing inventory, though, I assume they will need to raise prices to maintain the same margins as new imports will cost more.

The only other scenario is that when you, and individual consumer, buys the unit, the declared value is $950. Presumably Deer Creek Audio gets a discount for buying in bulk, and the tariff would be on the value of the transaction?

@GXAlan The administration's new tariffs for China and Hong Kong are a volatile situation with things changing daily.
miniDSP is located in Hong Kong and from there ship items which have country of origin (COO) both Hong Kong and China. So depending on the country of origin of an item, multiple individual duties can be assessed. The import carrier/broker also charges a merchandise processing fee.
The administration is also in the process of revoking the de minimis exemption. This curtails the duty free exemption for items valued under $800 USD. The status of this has been changing rapidly as US Customs gears up for the onslaught of additional processing.
For the most current information visit U.S. Customs and Border Protection at www.cbp.gov

 

[GXAlan]

Thanks GXAlan for your post

For those on the fence, how much MiniDSP stuff do you have in stock in the USA? The other thing that can happen is that the tariffs can continue to rise, so it’s not simply a 20% tariff for the foreseeable future. Could bump up more, so now is definitely the time to buy…

 

[mr_bill]

@GXAlan This is a great piece! Thank you for all your work in putting this together.

 

[deercreekaudio]

For those on the fence, how much MiniDSP stuff do you have in stock in the USA? The other thing that can happen is that the tariffs can continue to rise, so it’s not simply a 20% tariff for the foreseeable future. Could bump up more, so now is definitely the time to buy…

@GXAlan Here is our FAQ on the topic: "What is the impact of the new tariffs on products sold by Deer Creek Audio?"